UW–Madison Division of Extension and Collaborators Launch 6th Annual Military Family Readiness Academy

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension, in collaboration with OneOp, is helping professionals across the country strengthen support for military families through the 6th Annual Military Family Readiness Academy. The free four-week online series, Building Strong Communities for Military Family Readiness, explores how local communities can build more connected, coordinated systems of support for military families. Through live […]

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Supporting Local Economic Development

Small businesses, producers, and communities are faced with economic and financial situations every day. At Extension, we provide education, outreach, applied research, and expertise to support decision-making and finding direction. We lead placemaking and strategic planning processes so local leaders and residents can decide together what they want their future to look like. Then we […]

Students stand behind a table with a poster board explaining the poster's contents to a person standing in front of the table

Wisconsin Community Youth Corps

2026 Final Projects Funded by a 2-year UW-Madison Reilly-Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Grant, 12 Youth in Governance students took part in a pilot program focused on teaching youth how to conduct community-based research and produce videos sharing youth perspectives. Here are there 2026 final projects:

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Engaging Communities in Science

Through community-engaged science, UW–Madison Extension is building local capacity so that communities can thrive. By engaging communities in research and scientific inquiry, community members help shape research questions, data collection, and the use of results. That leads communities to have more trust in the findings and more “buy-in” when the findings lead to new procedures […]

Collage of different types of cooperatives, including farm, solar energy, and healthcare.

UWCC Awarded WEDC Grant to Expand Cooperative Development in Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives (UWCC) was awarded $127,000 by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to boost cooperative development throughout the state of Wisconsin. The funding will allow UWCC to expand technical assistance for start-ups, conversions, and existing co-ops, and address one of Wisconsin’s pressing concerns: retiring business owners without succession plans. “Like […]

As a municipal clerk specialist and education specialist with the Division of Extension, professor Melissa Kono travels the state to support election training efforts. Here, she leads the Waushara & Waupaca County Election Inspector Training at the Waushara County Government Center

Melissa Kono named a 2026 Distinguished Teaching Award Winner

Professor Melissa Kono, a municipal clerk specialist in the Local Government Education program, was named the 2026 recipient of the Wisconsin Idea Teaching Award. Kono was honored for her work to exemplify the guiding philosophy of UW–Madison’s outreach efforts to extend the borders of the university. Kono meets her students where they are — literally. […]

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Addressing Polarization through Civic Assemblies

In an era of increased political polarization, innovative approaches to bringing diverse voices together may offer ways for communities to rebuild trust and increase civic dialogue. Polarization has far-reaching consequences. As Americans increasingly distrust those with different political views, polarization can erode trust, narrow social connections, and discourage everyday civic conversation. Public meetings can become […]

Bridge with cars driving over a river. Bridge is surrounded by green trees and interspersed with roofs of houses and a brick clock tower peeking over the tree line on the far side of the bridge.

Strengthening Rural Economies through Wisconsin REV: Advancing Economic Development in Merrill

Like many rural and northern Wisconsin communities, Merrill’s population decline is shaped by an aging population and fewer young people moving to or staying in the area. “If you don’t address those and turn those around, what happens is your city, no matter what you do, will struggle to remain vibrant,” said Scott Steele, former […]

Extension’s AI Forums build foundational skills for local and tribal governments

As the New Glarus Village Administrator, Kelsey Jenson is thinking about AI and how it affects her work. “AI is here and continuing to grow, whether we like that or not. I think it’s imperative for local government officials to know how AI is already being used in our work,” she said. For public entities […]

Rural Livability Resources

Losing critical institutions and services makes it more difficult to have a thriving community and live in rural places. For communities in Wisconsin, there are planning tools and resources that are focused on increasing livability. The Rural Livability Project “Livability” is what makes somewhere a good place to live and work. But what livability looks […]